Triumphant homecoming for Cook in Los Angeles

At the site of the 1984 Olympic Games, Karl Cook (USA) and Caracole de la Roque followed up their Olympic silver medal from Paris 2024 with a victory in the inaugural Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Los Angeles. 

A newly constructed arena within the infield of the historic Santa Anita Park played host to a cast of 40 elite competitors, including four of the world's top 10 ranked jumping athletes, Saturday under the lights in Southern California, less than two hours from Cook's home base in San Diego. For the first time since the Paris Games, every member of the United States' silver medal-winning jumping squad was at the same event.

In the pair's first World Cup start of the season, Cook and "Cara" bested an eight-horse jump-off. Last to jump, they surpassed the target set by Daniel Bluman (ISR) and 9-year-old Corbie V.V., crossing the timers of Anderson Lima's (MEX) short course in 41.19 seconds. Bluman finished second (42.87s), followed by Cian O'Connor (IRL) and Iron Man (44.68s).

"When you go through something really intense, it makes you stronger or it really does the opposite. In our case, the [Olympics] made us stronger. I have complete faith in [Caracole de la Roque]."

Karl Cook (USA)

Rails fell throughout Lima's big and technical first round track, and the pattern continued in the jump-off. Knowing the caliber of the combinations that followed her, Ashlee Bond (ISR) pulled two rails with her speedy partner from the last two Olympic Games, Donatello 141. Olympic gold medalist Harry Charles (GBR) took a risk that resulted in a miscalculation at the combination that caused him to ultimately retire on course with Sherlock, while Shawn Casady added a single rail to his scorecard with Cool Quarz, illustrating the course's difficulty. 

Things came together though in the jump-off's second half, as the final four partnerships kept all the rails in the cups, and the lead changed hands with nearly every round. Kaitlin Campbell (USA) executed a conservative clear with Castlefield Cornelius. Vanessa Mannix (CAN) upped the ante with Kingston until Bluman set an extremely competitive standard with Corbie, whom he has developed since the mare's 6-year-old season.

"If I give my 70 percent, [Corbie] is probably going to jump a clear round," said Bluman, who has finished among the top 10 in each of the first four legs of the North American League season. "That's a great feeling to be able to have when you have this level of competition. I think the future is bright for her."

O'Connor took a slightly more calculated route with new mount Iron Man before Cook entered the arena, knowing exactly what he needed to do to some away with the victory.

"There's a huge advantage to going last. You get to see everyone go; you get to see how other riders shave time [and] what mistakes they make," Cook shared. "When I watched Daniel, he was crisp, [and] he was smooth. It was a great round. 

"But with Caracole, I have such confidence in her speed and her ability to turn that it that it was just about staying on our plan and not trying to get too far out over our skis [or trying] to break a land speed record," he continued. "It was just about, 'Do what I know she can do.'"

After logging his best results in Europe during the summer months, winning a five-star World Cup event in his home state was particularly meaningful for Cook. The state of California will hold two World Cup events this NAL season.

"This is a wonderful setting, a historical setting, [and] one that deserves, in my mind, show jumping," he said. "I've wanted this investment—in time, people, and money—in California for so long."

Bluman's result increased his lead in the North American League standings with 54 points. Kristen Vanderveen (USA) sits second with 35 points, followed by Kent Farrington (USA), who has 34 points.

The North American League resumes in Thermal, CA (USA) in February 2025.

FULL RESULTS

STANDINGS